Packaging or crating structure



May 23, 1933; H WAY 1,910,782

PACKAGING OR GRATING STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 19, 1931 one another, each being of angular' or substantially L-shaped whereby the right angularly disposed legs or arms thereof are adapted for cooperation with the adjacent ends of one of the side and one of the end elements, respectively, and like the side and end elements said corner elements may be formed either individually or by cutting an elongated blank into sections of Ydesired length.

Each end element initially is straight and composed in cross section of a side wall 22 and a pair of lateral flanges 24, 24, and in accordance with theV invention V-shaped notches 26 are formed in the lateral flanges, medially thereof, whereby the element is adapted to be bent into its angular or L- shape aforementioned. Moreover, the seetional size of thecorner elements is slightly greater than the sectional size of the side and end elements whereby the legs or arms of the corner elements are adapted to snugly receive and embrace the lend portions of the side and the end elements.

In the side wall 22 of each of the arms of each corner element is formed a series of narrow slots 28 which are evenly spaced longitudinally of said wall the same amount as the spacing of the htongues Q0 for the selectlve reception of said tongues.

To effect packaging or crating of articles by means of the side, end and corner elements described, the tongues 2O of the side and end elements first are bent to extend outward from said elements. The side elements then are disposed in embracing relation to the sides of the articles, the end elements are disposed in embracing relation to the ends of the articles, and the corner elements'are disposed with their leg or arm portions in embracing relation to the end portions of the side and end elements, respectively, with the tongues 20 ofvthe side and the end elements extending through the slots 28 of the related legs of the vcorner elements, respectively. The tongues then are bent inward against the outer faces of the side Walls of the corner elements whereby the side, end and corner elements are locked together in collective elnbracing relation tothe marginal portions of the article Instead of providing tongues on the side and end elements to extend through slots in the corner elements to lock the several elements in assembled relation, the side walls of the side, end and corner elements may be provided with openings 80 for the reception of short bolts 32 as illustrated in Figure 6. In this event the openings in each of said elements all are evenly spaced longitudinally of the respective elements and the openings of the side and end elements are countersunk into the inner faces of said elements to receive the bolt heads, the flat end faces of said bolt heads thus being adapted to lie flush with or Within the planes of the inner faces of the side Walls of the side and end elements so as not to engage the packaged or crated articles or to interfere in any way with the complete embracing engagement of the side and end elements with the articles.

Nuts 34 screwed onto the ends of the bolts 28 against the outer faces of the side walls of the corner elements serve to secure the respective elements in assembled relation, and in this connection it is apparent that aecording to both embodiments of the invention the corner elements are readily removable to release the side and end elements for opening of the package or crate, and that the several elements are readily capable of repeated use. Also, it is apparent according` to both embodiments of the invention that by reason of the evenly spaced relation of the securing devices, the crate is readily adjusable both in length and width simply by a selective engagement of certain of the tongues 20 with certain of the slots Q18, or by a selective a-linement of the holes in the side and end elements with the holes in the corner elements for the reception of the bolts 34. Furthermore, according to both embodiments of the invention it is apparent that only a minimum amount of metal is required for the complete structure; that the corners of the structure are effectively reinforced by the corner elements, and that the production of the side and end elements is greatly simplified due to said elements being in all essential respects duplicates of one another.

Referring to the modification illustrated in Figure 7 it will be observed that the cratingl elements designated. as 36 and corresponding to the elements l0 and 12 of l to 5. instead of being of U-shaped cross section like the elements l0, 12, are of L-shaped cross section. One of these elements 36 is arranged in embracing relation to each side and end corner of the articles to be packaged, and they are secured together by corner elements 14a of substantially the same construction as the corner elements lll. That is to say, each element 36 is provided at its ends with a series of tongues 20a, or with a series of bolt receiving openings as the case may be. and each corner element 14a which is of U-shaped cross section and adapted to embrace the elements 36, is provided in each of the side walls thereof with two series of slots or openings for register with the tongues or bolt openings of the elements 36, to receive either the tongues 20 or bolts, as the case may be, whereby the elements 36 and the corner element-s are adapted to be interlocked.

Obviously, by reason of the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 7. a great saving in material may be effected over the use of crating elements of U-shaped cross section, particularly in instances where the package is of material thickness. Obviously too, when crating elements of either U-shaped or L- shaped cross section are used the side and i end sections may be formed either separately from one. another or as a single continuous length of material suitably notched and bent to provide said side and end sections. Moreover, it is further obvious that as equivalents, substantially, of the L-shaped crating sections, top and bottom plates may be provided to extend completely across the top and the bottom ofthe package and marginal flanges may be provided on said plates to overlie the edges of the package and to be fastened to the corner elements in either of the different Ways shown and described.

From the foregoing description considered in connection With the accompanying drawing it is believed that the construction, mode of assembly and the advantages of my present packaging or crating structure Will be clearly understood, it is desired to point out, however, that while certain specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, the same is capable of embodiment in specifically di'erent mechanical structures within the, spirit and scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. A structure for packaging or crating articles comprising, in combination, straight side and end crating elements of U-shaped cross section and entirely separate from each other to embrace the sides and the ends of the articles to be crated, said side and end crating elements having equal cross sectional dimensions, corner elements of U-shaped cross section to embrace end portions of the side and end elements, and means for interlocking the corner elements with the side and end elements.

2. A structure for packaging or crating :articles comprising, in combination, separate side and end crating elements of U-shaped cross section and of equal sectional dimensions to embrace the sides and ends of the articles to be cra-ted, L-shaped Vcorner elements of U-shaped cross section to embrace end portions of the side and end elements, and a plurality of securing devices for fastening each corner element to one end of each of one of the side and one of the end elements, said securing devices being located at evenly spaced points longitudinally of the respective corner and side and end elements for selective use to vary the effective length and Width of the structure.

3. A structure for packaging or crating articles comprising, in combination, separate side and end crating elements of U-shaped cross section and of equal sectional dimensions to embrace the sides and ends of the articles to be crated, L-shaped corner elements of U -shaped cross section to embrace end portions of the side and end elements, the side and end elements having tongue formations located at evenly spaced points longitudinally thereof, and the corner elements having slots located at points spaced longitudinally of said elements the same distance apart as said tongues to selectively receive the latter for interlocking the different elements together in different relations for varying the etfective length and width of the structure.

4. Astructure for packaging or crating articles comprising, in combination, separate side and end crating elements of U-shaped cross section and of equal sectional dimensions to embrace the sides and ends of the articles to be crat-ed, corner elements of kU- shaped cross section to embrace end portions of the side and end elements, said corner elements and the end portions of said side and end elements having holes evenly spaced longitudinally thereof for selective alinement, and bolts extending through said holes to secure the different elements in assembly with each other, the holes in the side and end elements being countersunk to receive the heads of the bolts,

5. A `structure for packaging or crating articles comprising, in combination, separate side and end crating elements of U-shaped cross section to embrace the sides and the ends of the articles to be crated, L-shaped corner elements of U-shaped cross section each inclusive of angularly related portions to embrace an end of a side element and an end of an end element, respectively, and means for securing the respective portions of each corner element to the related end portions of a side and an end element in different relatively longitudinally adjusted positions of said corner portions and said side and end elements, respectively.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

HARRY C. WAY. 

